Excellent! Bill & Ted 3 script nearly complete

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K. If you're like me, and your love for Bill S. Preston, Esquire and 'Ted' Theodore Logan prompts you to use Bill & Ted references in everyday life (Beeth-oven, So-crates, Mr. the Kid, this article's opening sentence) and you yearn for a return to San Dimas, your wish may be becoming reality as we speak. Back in September 2010, Keanu Reeves sat down with MTV for an interview at the Toronto Film Festival and dropped a surprise bombshell - that he was open to starring in a third Bill & Ted outing. When prompted about the possibility, Reeves said that fellow co-star Alex Winter was also kicking around the idea and that writers Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon were pondering early ideas for a screenplay. Reeves not only revealed that he was open to the possibility, but the Matrix star was downright enthusiastic...

"...I'd love to play the role. I'd love to work with Alex and Chris and Ed again."

Naturally, the folks at MTV began hunting for Alex Winter to confirm if he felt the same way about returning to the franchise. A few days later, Winter also sat down for a chat and revealed that, in fact, Bill & Ted 3 was indeed moving forward...

"We kicked around the idea over the years and had always thought if we could make something that was as kind of genuine in spirit as the originals and without falling prey to a kind of retro cynicism or something that was unnecessary, it would be worth doing. Now the cat's out of the bag, and the truth is that, yeah, we have finally hit upon an idea that we think is really great."

Winter further revealed that the film would not be of the dreaded 'reboot' variety that is so popular in contemporary Hollywood and that the late George Carlin's character Rufus would "definitely not" be recast, saying that such a move would be "horrible".

After the initial chats with Reeves and Winter, no further news was forthcoming on the project for several months, giving rise to rumors that the possible threequel might be proving more difficult for the screenwriters than originally anticipated. Then, during an interview yesterday to promote his newest film Henry's Crime, Reeves was asked if there were any updates vis-a-vis Bill & Ted's production. Happily, there were...

"I believe the writers are six weeks away from a draft. No pressure, guys!"

Reeves was initially tight-lipped when prodded for plot details, but quickly divulged that the third film will be a play on the 'prophecy' mentioned in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey...

"When we last got together, part of it was that Bill and Ted were supposed to have written the song that saved the world. And it hasn't happened. So they've now become kind of possessed (with) trying to do that. Then there's an element of time and they have to go back."

So there you have it. To summarize, and from the few snippets of info we've heard, it appears that the third Bill & Ted film will feature Mr. S. Preston Esquire and Mr. Logan rapidly approaching middle age and still inhabiting lazy slackerhood. Their band, Wyld Stallyns, has yet to save the world as prophesied and the pair has become obsessed with coming up with the necessary world-saving song. In desperation, Bill and Ted apparently once again make use of their trusty time booth to assist them in their search for the perfect song, so that the world's inhabitants will finally learn to be excellent to each other.

What do you Bill & Ted fans think of this possible story? Excellent or bogus? Should Reeves and Winter leave well enough alone or are you looking forward to another trip in time? Let your opinions be known in the comments below... And party on, dudes.

Comments

This sounds exactly like the right line to take for a third film. Obviously they're not teenagers any more, and having seen the proof that one day they save the world, why do they need to worry? Of course, the difficult part is actually doing it.

As someone whose early teen years (and beyond) were shaped by the first movie, I have to say I am stoked that this movie is moving forward! I am also glad to hear that they won't re-cast Rufus. Carlin's performance was gold, and it's only right to respect his memory.

I originally thought it would not be a good idea to suddenly do this when it has been so long since the original two movies came out, but I am now okay with it as long as they do a story that actually works out and does not just seem like an extra one thrown in just to have the actors replay their roles- like what we saw with Bruce Willis in "Live Free or Die Hard", Sylvestor Stallone in "Rambo", and Harrison Ford in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". Those movies were completely unnecessary and just ruined their original series.